New Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting degree at UH Hilo also approved

KAPOLEI, Oʻahu — At its monthly meeting held this week in Kapolei, the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR) approved a two-year lease agreement with Island Pacific Academy for classroom space for UH West Oʻahu. The agreement gives UH West Oʻahu an immediate presence in Kapolei as it looks forward to the opening of its new campus there in Fall 2009.

The classroom space will provide a temporary satellite campus for UH West Oʻahu in Kapolei, providing much-needed space for the campus‘ first freshmen and sophomore classes. The space at Island Pacific Academy‘s recently completed high school facility will be used for evening classes, Mondays through Thursdays.

In other action, the BOR approved the establishment of a new major, the Bachelor of Business Administration/Major in Accounting, at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. The new major, effective Fall 2008, will help increase the educational capital of the state and graduate more students in accounting, a high demand field for the state and the nation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Demand for accountants and auditors in Hawaiʻi is projected to be an annual 190 through the year 2014. The University of Hawaiʻi currently graduates approximately 110 to 130 accounting majors each year. The new major at UH Hilo will not only provide for more graduates in the field, but will also address underserved regions and populations of the state, particularly Native Hawaiians. With UH Hilo‘s large Native Hawaiian student population, the campus will be in a foremost position to recruit more Native Hawaiian students into the accounting field.

"We are pleased to add a BBA in accounting to the degrees offered by our College of Business and Economics," said UH Hilo Chancellor Rose Tseng. "This is an excellent entry degree for professional level accounting and a firm foundation for graduate study in business and related disciplines."

Also approved was the appointment of Dr. Christian Veillet to a three-year term on the Mauna Kea Management Board. Veillet has been associated with the Canada France Hawaiʻi Telescope (CFHT) for the past 10 years. He first arrived at CFHT in 1996 where he served as a resident astronomer for three years followed by an appointment in 1999 to senior resident astronomer. In 2003, he was appointed executive director and continues to serve in this capacity.

Veillet is highly regarded in the local astronomy community for his commitment to ensuring that development and operations of astronomical facilities on Mauna Kea are carried out with sensitivity, care and respect to the special nature of Mauna Kea.

In personnel action, Vice President for Academic Planning and Policy Linda Johnsrud will take on additional duties for the UH Mānoa campus on June 1 as the campus‘ interim vice chancellor for academic affairs. Johnsrud‘s temporary assignment was approved by the BOR for one year, or until the position is filled. Mānoa‘s current vice chancellor for academic affairs, Neal Smatresk, announced earlier this year that he would be leaving for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he will serve as executive vice president and provost beginning June 1.